Universal positive pay match, authentication, authorization, settlement and clearing system

ABSTRACT

A Universal Positive Pay Database (UPPD) method, system, and/or computer useable medium to reduce financial transaction fraud. A UPPD database is configured to store thereon transaction records associated with financial transactions corresponding to customers of the UPPD database. A particular financial transaction is initiated between a payer and a payee by providing parameters associated with the financial transaction to the UPPD database. An Issue File is provided to the UPPD database that includes parameters associated with the particular financial transaction. A correspondence determination is made between the financial transaction parameters from the Issue File and the financial transaction parameters provided to the UPPD database at every point along the financial transaction clearing process. The customer, payer, payee, payee bank, drawee bank, and banking institutions intermediate the payee bank and the drawee bank are able to access the correspondence determination at every point along the financial transaction clearing process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/871,006, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/983,065, filed Oct. 23, 2001 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,754,640, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/243,722, filed Oct. 30, 2000, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a Universal Positive Pay Databasemethod, system, and/or computer useable medium to reduce check fraud andverify checks, other financial instruments and documents.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Paper checks have been ingrained into our society for over one hundredyears. Many young people take their first steps into financial adulthoodwith the opening of their first checking account. Consumers continue towrite an average of 25 checks per month. Paper checks give consumers theability to make purchases and live day to day without carrying aroundcash. It gives them the freedom to make purchases before deposits arerecorded at their bank and earn interest before withdrawals.Unfortunately, all this freedom comes with a price—Check Fraud. With theincrease in home computer technology and high quality laser printers,paper checks can be easily created, even to the point of fooling socalled experts in the field. Law enforcement agencies have reported thatcheck fraud is the most under-reported white color crime. Estimatesrange as high as 50 billion annually. Out of the 180 million checkswritten daily, 1.2 million are fraudulent. That is less than 1%, butenough to amount to a viral and very expensive problem. Federal lawenforcement agencies have seen check fraud go from the individual actingalone to gangs acting in concert, stealing millions.

Besides all the fraud possibilities, paper checks are costly foreveryone—financial institutions, retailers and ultimately consumers. Asthe use of paper checks continues to grow at 2-3% annually the problemwill not go away, it will only increase. We need a solution encompassingall contact points in the processing of a paper check, a debit card, anda paper debit check, a complete and connective solution that does notjust transfer the responsibility of check fraud, but stops the fraud.

Many techniques have been developed to inhibit check fraud, such asPositive Pay, different forms of electronic check verification andelectronic check presentment with and without Automated Clearing House(ACH), but none eliminate fraud from the use of paper checks. All ofthese electronic methods have taken a positive step in the handling ofpaper checks. Each has made the process more efficient and less costlyby not having to handle paper checks. One area where they all fall shortis in the elimination of check fraud. Check electronification places theburden of check fraud on the other parties in the process. This may begood for an individual in the process, but not everyone. If a worthlesscheck is processed or an account is closed pre-maturely, someone in theprocess is responsible.

Positive Pay is a technique where each corporate customer sends anelectronic list of their outstanding checks to their financialinstitution. The corporate customer's financial institution then uses anIssue File to validate each check as it clears the financialinstitution. The Issue File includes parameters associated with theoutstanding checks of each corporate customer, such as check amounts,account numbers, routing numbers, check dates, signatures, etc. If acheck does not validate correctly—the financial institution requestsproper authorization from the corporation on how to handle the check.There are two main problems that exist here: (1) Positive Pay only workswith the financial institutions corporate customers. No other entity inthe process has knowledge of the Positive Pay matching capabilities.Under this scenario the person presenting the worthless check willreceive the money and the merchant or his financial institution is lefttrying to recover the loss. (2) There are no standards for Positive Pay.Each financial institution implements its own Positive Pay rules andfile formats. In essence, each financial institution is creating anisland for itself and its corporate customers.

Check electronification means a number of different things, fromverifying the check writers' history against a database to transmittingthe account and transaction information electronically to aclearinghouse for settlement. The transmission can be as simple as themagnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line of the check to a fullimage of the check.

Check electronification processes try to verify that funds will beavailable when the check clears the bank account. The problem is thatthere is no check electronification process where the whole checkprocessing system has knowledge of the other financial institutions'position. Prior to clearing the check the account could be closed, orfunds withdrawn making the check have non-sufficient funds (NSF). Thepaper check is eliminated in the process, which will save financialinstitution time and money, however check fraud continues. Theverification database is only as good as the information available. Awarranty system is sometimes put in place to guarantee the merchantreceives his money, but again someone in the check process will beresponsible for the worthless check. The cost of check fraud continuesto be passed along the clearing chain, ultimately to the consumer.

Therefore, a need exists for a Universal Positive Pay Database (UPPD)method, system, and/or computer useable medium that can be universallyapplied in order to result in a more secure authorization system. Therelated art is represented by the following references of interest.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,238 issued Aug. 22, 1978 to Robert V. Creekmore,outlines the use of a check verification system for providing customeroperated verification of checks at point of sale locations. The systemenables a customer to verify several possible kinds of checkingfunctions, including verification of payroll or government checks aswell as certain types of personal checks for cash. The system utilizes anumber of local point of use terminals which are operated by thecustomer and which communicate with a remotely located transactionprocessor, including a positive file of customers who are entitled toverify checks. The Creekmore patent does not suggest a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium according to the claimedinvention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,620, issued Aug. 17, 1993 to David W. Deaton et al.,describes a check reader and method for reading a check MICR code havinga plurality of fields including a checking account number. A reader headdetects a MICR code on a check and generates electrical signalsrepresentative of the MICR code. Circuitry omits portions of the MICRcode except a predetermined portion thereof, such that the predeterminedportion of the MICR code can be detected regardless of its locationwithin the MICR code fields. The Deaton et al. patent does not suggest aUPPD method, system, and/or computer useable medium according to theclaimed invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,222, issued Dec. 17, 1996 to Wei Zhang et al.,describes a process for associating and storing an input pattern ortwo-dimensional pattern with use of associative matrices having the samesize as that of an input pattern without converting it into aone-dimensional pattern, wherein the associative matrices are generatedfrom the input pattern so as to maximize the Hamming distance betweenstate invariants which correspond to each different storage pattern, andthereby a power of categorization that corresponds to each storagepattern can be enhanced, thus increasing the storage capability androbustness. The Zhang et al. patent does not suggest a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium according to the claimedinvention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,955 issued Oct. 14, 1997 to John Doggett et al.outlines the use of an electronic instrument created in a computer-basedmethod for effecting a transfer of funds from an account of a payer in afunds-holding institution to a payee. The electronic instrument includesan electronic signature of the payer, digital representations of paymentinstructions, the identity of the payer, the identity of the payee andthe identity of the funds-holding institution. A digital representationof a verifiable certificate by the institution of the authenticity ofthe instrument of the instrument is appended to the instrument.

The Doggett et al. method and apparatus are associated essentially witha bank specific Positive Pay system, as opposed to the UniversalPositive Pay Database system according to the claimed invention, whereinall parties are able to verify check register information of a customer,e.g., a payer, at every point along the path of a check clearingprocess, e.g., at the point of sale, at the payee's bank, at a FederalReserve Clearing Division or a clearing house, and at the payer's bank.Bank specific Positive Pay systems restrict access by a customer tocheck register information for the customer. The Doggett et al. patentdoes not suggest a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useable mediumaccording to the claimed invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,366 issued Sep. 1, 1998 to Wade L. Funk et al.,outlines the use of an automated check processing system which includesan input device receiving checking account information and a checkamount of a check provided for payment in a transaction. A transactiondatabase coupled to the input device then electronically receives andstores the checking account information and check amount, which are thendownloaded to a power encoder. The power encoder receives checkingaccount information and check amounts for transactions occurring over apredetermined transaction period and then matches the checks with theelectronic checking account information and check amounts.

The Funk et al. system is similar to the system described by Doggett etal., in that Funk et al. describes a bank specific Positive Pay system,as opposed to a Universal Positive Pay Database system according to theclaimed invention, wherein all parties are able to verify check registerinformation of a customer at every point along the path of a checkclearing process. The Funk et al. patent does not suggest a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium according to the claimedinvention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,344 issued Mar. 14, 2000 to David M. Goldenbergoutlines the use of an apparatus and method for countering fraudulentcheck cashing schemes that includes a central processing center that isconnected to a plurality of banks through secure communication channels.Each check drawn against the banks has information stored therein, withthat information corresponding to a plurality of digits and charactersfor the central processing center. When a check is presented at a bank,the information on the check is sent through one of the securecommunication channels to the central processing system, whichdetermines whether or not the account has sufficient funds to allow thecheck to be drawn against the account. The Goldenberg patent does notsuggest a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useable medium accordingto the claimed invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,391 B1, issued Apr. 10, 2001 to William H. Lewis,describes a system for identifying an individual by either generating anidentification profile based on a distinctive biometric characteristicpossessed by that person (e.g. voice analysis, finger print, facialscan, DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA), etc.), or by verifying some digital“signature” representation assigned to that person. The biometricinformation or digital signature may then be used in a variety offunctions to enhance both the security and convenience of conductingelectronic transactions. The system may provide an algorithm forcreating a personal identification number (PIN) for use as a preliminaryor secondary identification steps, and/or an algorithm for generatingunique tone codes for use in personal identification via telephone ormodem. Further, security of online transactions may be greatly improvedby placing access key information in a medium outside the computer hostor client. The system further provides a device that facilitates auser's ability to change codes or methods of generating codes instantly,without having to contact their bank, credit card company, etc. TheLewis patent does not suggest a UPPD method, system, and/or computeruseable medium according to the claimed invention.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent ApplicationPublication No. WO 97/055383, published Feb. 13, 1997, describes amethod for checking and processing bank checks, wherein a secret code iscomputed, in the form of a CMC7 code thereof, and from an account numberread off a check submitted for payment, by a dedicated chip in a checkprocessing device held by a payee, then compared with a secret codeinput into the device by the check issuer to determine whether he or sheis the rightful account holder. The WIPO '267 application does notsuggest a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useable medium accordingto the claimed invention.

WIPO Patent Application Publication No. WO 97/36267, published Oct. 2,1997, outlines the use of an automated positive check authorizationsystem that includes an input device for receiving a check amount andchecking account information pre-printed on a check drawing on achecking account presented in a transaction at the time of checkpresentment. The checking account information and check amount areelectronically transmitted to a check verifier, which receives the checkamount and, checking account information from the input device andsearches a checking account database for a current balance in thechecking account. The WIPO '267 application does not suggest a UPPDmethod, system, and/or computer useable medium according to the claimedinvention.

THE STATE OF UTAH UNIFORM ACCOUNTING MANUAL, revised on Apr. 1, 1997,describes how unclaimed tangible or “custodial property” is to behandled in Utah. THE STATE OF UTAH UNIFORM ACCOUNTING MANUAL does notsuggest a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useable medium accordingto the claimed invention.

U.S. Public Law 108-100, 117 STAT. 1177, entitled the “Check 21 Act”(CHECK 21) was signed into law in the U.S. on Oct. 28, 2003, becomeseffective on Oct. 28, 2004 (see U.S. Public Law 108-100, 117 STAT.1177), and is incorporated herein by reference. CHECK 21 fostersinnovation in the payments system and enhances its efficiency byreducing some of the legal impediments to check truncation. The lawfacilitates check truncation by a negotiable instrument called a“substitute check”, which permits banks to truncate original checks, toprocess check information electronically, and to deliver substitutechecks to banks that want to continue receiving paper checks. A“substitute check” is the legal equivalent of the original check andincludes all the information contained on the original check. The CHECK21 law does not require banks to accept checks in electronic form nordoes it require banks to use the new authority granted by the act tocreate substitute checks. The CHECK 21 law does not suggest a UPPDmethod, system, and/or computer useable medium according to the claimedinvention.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a Universal Positive Pay Database (UPPD)method, system, and/or computer useable medium to reduce financialtransaction fraud. A UPPD database is configured to store thereontransaction records associated with financial transactions associatedwith customers of the UPPD database. Each transaction record isconfigured to include parameters associated with a particular financialtransaction. A particular financial transaction is initiated between apayer and a payee by providing parameters associated with the particularfinancial transaction to the UPPD database.

An Issue File is also provided to the UPPD database. The Issue Fileincludes parameters associated with the particular financialtransaction, and the particular financial transaction is associated witha drawee bank. A correspondence determination is made between theparameters associated with the particular financial transaction from theIssue File and the parameters associated with the particular financialtransaction provided to the UPPD database to initiate the particularfinancial transaction at every point along a financial transactionclearing process. The customer, payer, payee, payee bank, drawee bank,and banking institutions intermediate the payee bank and the drawee bankare able to access the correspondence determination at every point alonga financial transaction clearing process.

Accordingly, it is a principal aspect of the invention to provide a UPPDmethod, system, and/or computer useable medium that reduces financialtransaction fraud and maintains financial transaction payment control.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium that can interchangeably be used bycustomers, financial institutions, commercial retail entities, theFederal Reserve, check verification services, insurance companies,pharmaceutical companies, and other entities.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium that also provides a positive ornegative financial transaction history rating on a customer.

Still another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured to receive input data from awide variety of technology.

Yet another aspect of the invention provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium to perform a point of sale, point ofpresentment, and point of encashment financial transactionauthorization.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured for use with any transactioninstrument.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium configured for a paper checkconversion to an electronic check or an electronic check conversion to apaper check on an MICR laser printer utilizing the associatedtransaction record for the UPPD system.

Still another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured for use with securitydetectable inks, tamper-proof foils and threads, as well as hologramsapplied to a financial instrument to provide additional security againstfraud.

Yet another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured for use with cell wallets,palm wallets, e-wallets, cam wallets, and other wireless devices.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium configured for use with plasticcard financial instruments such as credit cards, debit cards, storedvalue cards, payroll cards, cash cards, smartcards, etc.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium to provide a, service for billpresentment, bill payment, accounts payable, and payroll.

Still another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured to utilize a transactioninstrument with a micro computer chip embedded within the surface of thetransaction instrument, to contain digitized signatures, security, andGlobal Positioning System (GPS) data and transaction record(s).

Yet another aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium to reduce the amount of paper and plasticinvolved when conducting banking transactions.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a UPPD method,system, and/or computer useable medium to implement a positive match ofdata exchange for insurance policies, medical information, andpharmaceutical information.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide UPPD method, system,and/or computer useable medium configured to enable a financialinstitution merchant and all parties to debit stall or stall debit onany and all debit card and check debit financial transactions.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useablemedium for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable andfully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a network diagram example of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is network diagram example of a UPPD system with outsidefinancial services provided according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a network diagram example of a UPPD system with checkverification provided according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a network diagram example of a UPPD system with checkverification and outside financial services provided according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a flow diagram of a UPPD method for checkingaccounts according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating bank specific Positive Payaccording to the prior art.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing no connectivity with bank specificPositive Pay according to the prior art.

FIG. 8 is a diagram according to the prior art showing why check fraudworks today.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram indicating how a UPPD system processes a badcheck according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram indicating how stalled debt or debit stall is usedby a UPPD according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram indicating how Safety Check Deposit software isused by a UPPD system according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram indicating how TrackBack software is used by a UPPDsystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram indicating how a credit history compilation is usedby a UPPD system.

FIG. 14 is an overview of a diagram showing different communicationsmethods used by a UPPD system according to the 5 present invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow charts of bank specific Positive Payprocesses that can be used with UPPD processes according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H, 15I, 15J, and 15K, are flow chartsof UPPD processes according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 is a functional diagram of a UPPD process according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 20 is a functional diagram of a UPPD process according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are flow charts of UPPD processes according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D are flow charts of UPPD processes accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, and 23E are flow charts of UPPD processesaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, and 24F are functional diagrams of UPPDprocesses according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a functional diagram of a UPPD process according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E are functional diagrams of UPPDprocesses according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are functional diagrams of UPPD processes according tothe present invention.

FIG. 29 is a functional diagram of a point of sale transaction utilizinga UPPD system according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 31 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, and 32F, are functional diagrams of aUPPD processes according to the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a functional diagram of the use of a PIN with a UPPD systemaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 34A and 34B are functional diagrams of UPPD processes according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 35A and 35B are diagrams of security measure for use with a UPPDsystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a functional diagram of biometric security measures for usewith a UPPD system according to the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a functional diagram of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This present invention is a UPPD method, system, and/or computer useablemedium. The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible ofembodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and describedherein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It isto be understood, however, that the present disclosure is anexemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limitthe invention to the illustrated embodiments.

Referring to the drawings, a UPPD system 10 for maintaining financialtransaction control and preventing financial transaction fraud withconnectivity between users is shown in FIG. 1. The UPPD system 10includes a UPPD database 20 and provides match, authentication,authorization, settlement, and clearing processes for financialtransactions initiated by customers of the UPPD database 20. UPPDcustomers, as used herein, are individuals, companies, businesses,organizations, government agencies, etc., who have access to the UPPDdatabase 20.

The UPPD system 10 provides connectivity of information communicationand verification by matching an issued item and/or files to parametersassociated with a particular financial transaction, as presented atpoint of presentment (POP), point of encashment (POE), point of sale(POS), etc, the ability to ascertain whether a financial transaction isauthentic, or whether it appears to be authentic. Any indication that afinancial transaction has been altered, account closed, or insufficientfunds exist, the financial transaction can be blocked immediately or adebit stalled preventing banks, banks customers, merchants, etc., frombeing held liable for worthless transaction instruments (e.g., checks,debit check(s), debit card transaction(s), debit/creditticket(s)/slip(s), sales ticket(s)/receipt(s), etc.).

The UPPD system 10 is configured to enable multiple banks, consumers,and merchants a truly universal protection and security system. The UPPDsystem 10 provides the most cost effective way to virtually eliminatefraud, provide unprecedented security, and drastically reduce the costof clearing financial transactions including paper and electronicofficial items, e.g., checks, debit cards, debit checks, money orders,gift certificates, cards and other official documents. The UPPD system10 provides connectivity from banks to banks and merchants to banksinstantly. The UPPD system 10 provides a source for connectivity,centralized and/or personalized data retrieval, match authentication,confirmation of sufficient funds, protection from identity theft, andother applications.

While the UPPD database 20 is illustrated as a single database, the UPPDdatabase 20 may be configured as a plurality of separate or disparatedatabases interconnected through a network system via any number ofswitches, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),an intranet, an extranet, the Internet, etc.

The UPPD system 10 includes a computer useable medium and a computerdevice with a processor. As used herein, a “computer useable medium”includes a non-volatile medium (e.g., a magnetic medium, hard disk, asolid state disk, optical storage, Flash memory, electrically eraseableprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM), parameter random access memory(PRAM), etc.), a volatile medium (e.g., dynamic RAM (DRAM), DirectRambus.RTM. DRAM (DRDRAM), double-data rate DRAM (DDR DRAM), double-datarate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced DRAM (EDRAM), enhancedsynchronous DRAM (ESDRAM), extended data out (EDO) DRAM, burst EDO(BEDO) DRAM, fast page mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), Rambus DRAM (RDRAM),SyncLink.RTM. DRAM (SLDRAM), synchronous RAM (SRAM), synchronous DRAM(SDRAM), synchronous graphic RAM (SGRAM), video RAM (VRAM), window RAM(WRAM), etc.), or an installation medium (e.g., a CD-ROM, a floppy disk,a removable disk, etc.), on which computer programs are stored forloading into the computer device.

The computer device may be any type of computer device with a processor,such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, anetwork computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an embeddeddevice, a smart phone, or any other suitable computer device. Forexample, the UPPD system 10 may include one or more server computerswith a processor, an area of main memory for executing program codeunder the direction of the processor, a storage device for storing dataand program code and a bus connecting the processor, area of main memoryand the storage device. The UPPD database 20 may be stored on thestorage device, as well as a data communications device, such as amodem, connected to the bus for wirelessly and/or non-wirelesslyconnecting the computer to a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), an intranet, an extranet, the Internet, etc. UPPDsoftware is stored in the computer useable medium and executes under thedirection of the processor.

The UPPD software causes the processor to provide and configure the UPPDdatabase 20 to store thereon transaction records associated withfinancial transactions corresponding to customers of the UPPD database20. Each transaction record is configured to include alphanumeric datapertaining to parameters associated with a particular financialtransaction. Such parameters for one financial transaction includealphanumeric data grouped into fields associated with items that mayinclude a payer name, a payee name, payer and/or payee personalspecifics, a transaction instrument, an account number, a PIN, a digitalsignature, etc. Biometric information may also be provided asparameters, such as DNA, facial structure, iris, retina, finger print,voice, signature, etc. For example, parameters associated with apaper/electronic check may include a check number, an issue date, apayee, a routing number, an account number, etc.

A transaction instrument may be configured to operate with the UPPDsystem 10. A “transaction instrument”, as used herein, means a paperand/or electronic check (paper/electronic check), an image of apaper/electronic check, a debit card, a debit check, a an intranet, anextranet, the Internet, etc. UPPD software is stored in the computeruseable medium and executes under the direction of the processor.

The UPPD software causes the processor to provide and configure the UPPDdatabase 20 to store thereon transaction records associated withfinancial transactions initiated by customers of the UPPD database 20.Each transaction record is configured to include alphanumeric datapertaining to parameters associated with a particular financialtransaction. Such parameters for one financial transaction includealphanumeric data grouped into fields associated with items that mayinclude a payer name, a payee name, payer and/or payee personalspecifics, a transaction instrument, an account number, a PIN, a digitalsignature, etc. Biometric information may also be provided asparameters, such as DNA, facial structure, iris, retina, finger print,voice, signature, etc. For example, parameters associated with apaper/electronic check may include a check number, an issue date, apayee, a routing number, an account number, etc.

A transaction instrument may be configured to operate with the UPPDsystem 10. A “transaction instrument”, as used herein, means a paperand/or electronic check (paper/electronic check), an image of apaper/electronic check, a debit card, a debit check, a smartcard, acredit card, a point of sale (POS) terminal, a point of escheat (POE)terminal, a point of presentment (POP) terminal, a bank point of data(POD) terminal, an automated teller machine (ATM), a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a telephone, a cellular telephone, a cordlesstelephone, a pager, a watch, a television, a radio, a compact disc (CD)player, a tape player, a copier, a facsimile machine, or any otherelectronic device.

Account number parameters for transaction records of financialtransactions for the UPPD system 10 may be associated with a checkingaccount number, a savings account number, a credit card account number,a money market account number, a liability account number, abills/payable account number, an asset account number, aninvoice/receivables account number, a cash account number, an insurancepolicy account number, an account number for a will, an account numberfor a trust, or a number for any other financial account.

The UPPD system 10 is configured to operably utilize an Issue Filesubstantially the same as Positive Pay files used with bank-specificPositive Pay services previously described, may have limitedconnectivity and/or may be universally available through connectivityvia the UPPD system 10 between any party(s), such as bank(s),institution(s), company(s), third party(s), vendor(s), merchant(s),consumer(s), etc. An Issue File, as used herein, is configured for usewith the UPPD system 10 and includes one or more transaction recordsassociated with certain financial transactions, where the financialtransactions are associated with a drawee bank. The transactionrecord(s) in an Issue File each include alphanumeric data pertaining toparameters associated with a certain financial transaction. The IssueFile is established at the time the particular financial transaction isinitiated between a payer and a payee by a customer of the UPPD database20 by providing parameters associated with the particular financialtransaction to the UPPD database 20.

For a particular financial transaction, a comparison or correspondencedetermination is made between the parameters associated with theparticular financial transaction from the Issue File and the parametersassociated with the particular financial transaction provided to theUPPD database 20 when the particular financial transaction wasinitiated. Such a correspondence determination is made at periodicintervals (e.g., fractions of a second), and at every point along thefinancial transaction clearing process. The correspondence determinationis also available to the customer, payer, payee, payee bank, draweebank, and banking institutions intermediate the payee bank and thedrawee bank at any time, e.g., throughout the financial transactionclearing process.

The customer, payer, payee, payee bank, drawee bank, and bankinginstitutions intermediate the payee bank and the drawee bank can thendetermine whether the correspondence determination between the financialparameters from the Issue File and the financial transaction parametersprovided to the UPPD database 20 when the particular financialtransaction was initiated does not match and/or does not coincide belowa minimum threshold, thereby enhancing security by facilitating anaccurate determination as to whether the tampering or altering hasoccurred to the transaction record at every point along the financialtransaction clearing process.

The UPPD software may also search and capture transaction records forcompliance with escheat laws, automatically poll transaction records,transmit a partial or full reconciliation of the transaction records,locate lost, stolen, misplaced items, and items not presented and thatremain outstanding, and archive and store transaction records, matchingdata, verification data, and authentication data for a predeterminedperiod of time.

Currently a payments system, defined as the combined transaction-basedprocesses, procedures, rules, and regulations employed by the financialinstitutions and, in the United States, the Federal Reserve System, isemployed for the express purpose of moving funds among financialinstitutions and individuals in support of commerce. Anelectronification payments system environment has been evolving overtime and has been influenced by a need to reduce current item processingcosts, reduction in the cost of float by increasing the speed of thepayments system process, the growth of point-purchase Conversionvolumes, the emergence of new technologies, particularly the use on theInternet, customer acceptance of multiple delivery channels, maturationof image technology as a viable processing platform, concerns aboutcybersecurity, and, in the United States, the Check Truncation Act(CTA).

As used herein, the ‘electronification’ of checks refers to the processof converting paper checks into some form of an electronic financialtransaction, such as an image-based transaction or image exchange,Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit or electronic check presentation(ECH) debit. An ‘electronic check’ refers to one of several types ofelectronic financial transactions including an ACH-based electroniccheck, an electronic network electronic check, and Internet or telephoneinitiated payments. The ACH-based electronic check begins as a papercheck and is converted into, or truncated to, an ACH debit entry. Thepaper check is not processed. An Internet or telephone initiated paymentis a financial transaction initiated over the Internet or by telephone,with the debit carried out electronically, usually by an ACH debit. Someusers categorize payments initiated via the Internet or telephone, butthat are effected by paper drafts, as electronic checks, even though thedebit is paper-based. Electronic check may also refer to any attempt toinitiate payment through a personal computer, computer system, or theInternet.

In the United States, the CTA facilitates check truncation byeliminating some of the legal impediments to the use of electronics incheck processing, in order to allow all financial institutions toparticipate in an environment in which the truncation of checks canoccur at any point in the payment process. In addition, the CTA seeks toensure that financial institutions which have not, or may not, invest inimaging do not have to make a large financial investment to develop thesystem infrastructure needed to support check truncation.

Check imaging is a process whereby check images are captured via imagecamera and stored in a digitized format. This process may beaccomplished on medium to high speed processing equipment, such asequipment manufactured by IBM, NCR, Unisys, Banc Tec, etc., is normallydone in financial institution back offices for the capture, sorting, anddistribution of checks and other MICR encoded documents. The benefits ofimaging over microfilm are quality, transportability, availability, andtimeliness. The capturing financial institution can keep an archivalcopy of every document processed. A copy of a customer's check can beincluded in the statement mailing. Checks drawn on other financialinstitutions can be exchanged with those financial institutions in lieuof physical documents. Check imaging reduces the risk inherent in thepayments system by considerably reducing the time during which checksare presented and paid.

An ACH debit entry, electronic funds transfer (EFT), and/or other moneytransfer processes initiated by an originator, such as a merchant, isknown as a point of presentment (POP) financial transaction. A POPfinancial transaction is initiated as a single entry authorization, anduses a check as a source document. The MICR line information is capturedand provided by the originating merchant to the paying bank at the POPto effect a transfer of funds from a consumer account of the payingbank. This type of financial transaction may only be used fornon-recurring, in person (i.e., at the POP) entries for which there areno standing authorizations with the originating merchant for theorigination of the ACH entries to the consumer's account.

A POP conversion is a process in which checks are converted intoelectronic debits and processed using the ACH network. POP conversionmay be effected when the merchant keeps the original check or when theconsumer receives the check after the conversion process. When theconsumer receives the check after the conversion process, the consumersubmits an original check and signs an authorization document, a copy ofwhich is returned to him/her when the financial transaction iscompleted. The merchant scans the written check through a special readerthat captures the account, check, and routing number, as well as thepurchase amount.

The check data are then sent to an agent for authorization of theamount. Once authorized, the amount is converted to an electronicfinancial transaction and sent through the ACH network for payment. Theconsumer signs the separate authorization document and receives theoriginal check back, which has been stamped “void” by the merchant. Withthis type of financial transaction, the paying bank does not have theopportunity to review the check and authenticate the customer throughsignature verification.

Returning the paper check to the consumer after the ACH financialtransaction is generated minimizes the risk that a perpetrator willredirect the funds to an account other than the retailer's. Processcontrols manage the debit and credit flow from origination toconclusion. The credits to the merchant's account must match the debitsthat are originated. This proof mechanism protects both the merchant andconsumer from dishonest employees, interlopers between the sending andreceiving of the transactions, and deceitful individuals who try toalter the financial transaction amount.

With telephone financial transactions, the originating merchant orservice provider can initiate a single entry ACH debit pursuant to anoral authorization obtained over the telephone to transfer funds from aconsumer account. This type of entry may only be used as a single entry,for which there is not standing authorization for the origination of theACH entries to the consumer's account. A telephone entry may only beused when there is an existing relationship between the originatingmerchant or service provider and consumer or, when there is not anexisting relationship between the originating merchant or serviceprovider and the receiver, when the consumer initiates the telephonecall.

An originating merchant or service provider may initiate an ACH debitentry pursuant to an authorization obtained from the paying bank, viathe Internet, to transfer funds from a consumer account at the payingbank.

Positive Pay services have been available from individual banks inrecent years. It is a service that a bank sells for a fee to its accountholders whereby only checks that are pre-approved are accepted at thebank. The check generating customer generally uploads a file oftransaction records associated with financial transactions daily to thebank of all checks written that day. When checks drawn on the customers'accounts are presented to the bank, their database is queried. If thetransaction record for a check has been tampered with or if transactionrecord includes an unauthorized check number, the transaction recordwill be rejected.

Positive Pay services are recognized as an effective service to fightagainst check fraud. Rejected checks cause considerable effort to beexpended throughout the highly regulated banking system. A typical checkpasses from point of sale to depositing bank to the Federal Reserve orclearing bank and back to the account holder's bank and account. At eachstep, the check is read, sorted and recorded, forming a trail that canbe easily traced.

The existing Positive Pay services are bank specific. In other words,only a bank's own account holders can utilize it and take advantage ofit. The UPPD system 10 can be used by both account holder members andnon-members. The UPPD system 10 may be accessed by customers, payers,payees, payee banks, drawee banks, and banking institutions intermediatethe payee banks and the drawee banks for issuing and trackingtransaction records associated with financial transactions at everypoint along the financial transaction clearing process (e.g. the POP,POS, POE, bank POD, the truncation bank, etc.).

The UPPD system 10 allows all banks to participate in a process that cancatch fraudulent transaction records associated with a financialtransaction earlier in the financial transaction redemption cycle. Forexample, for paper/electronic checks, at each step in the check clearingprocess, the UPPD database 20 of the UPPD system 10 can be queried todetermine if the owner of the account has indeed authorized theinstrument for the amount written and signature on the financialinstrument. A few banks have already developed their own internalPositive Pay software, however, this software is only bank specific.

The Check 21 Act (CHECK 21) was signed into law in the United States onOct. 28, 2003, and becomes effective on Oct. 28, 2004 (see U.S. PublicLaw 108-100 117 STAT. 1177). CHECK 21 fosters innovation in the paymentssystem and enhances its efficiency by reducing some of the legalimpediments to check truncation. The law facilitates check truncation bya negotiable instrument called a “substitute check”, which permits banksto truncate original checks, to process check informationelectronically, and to deliver substitute checks to banks that want tocontinue receiving paper checks. A “substitute check” is the legalequivalent of the original check and includes all the informationcontained on the original check. The law does not require banks toaccept checks in electronic form nor does it require banks to use thenew authority granted by the act to create substitute checks.

As used herein, the definitions for the following terms apply. The term“bank” means any person, company, and/or business that is engaged in thebusiness of banking and includes (a) any depository institution asdefined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act, (b) anyFederal reserve bank, (c) any U.S. Federal home loan bank, or (d) to theextent it acts as a payer (i) the Treasury of the U.S., (ii) the U.S.Postal Service, (iii), a State government, or (iv) a unit of generallocal government as defined in section 602(24) of the Expedited FundsAvailability Act.

The terms “magnetic ink character recognition line” and “MICR line”means the numbers, which may include the bank routing number, accountnumber, check number, check amount, and other information, that areprinted near the bottom of a check in magnetic ink in accordance withgenerally applicable industry standards.

The term “substitute check” means a paper reproduction of the originalcheck that (a) contains an image of the front and back of the originalcheck, (b) bears a MICR line containing all the information appearing onthe MICR line of the original check, except as provided under generallyapplicable industry standards for substitute checks to facilitate theprocessing of substitute checks, (c) conforms, in paper stock,dimension, and otherwise, with generally applicable industry standardsfor substitute checks, and (d) is suitable for automated processing inthe same manner as the original check.

The term “truncate” means to remove an original paper check from thecheck collection or return process and send to a recipient, in lieu ofsuch original paper check, a substitute check or, by agreement,information relating to the original check (including data taken fromthe MICR line of the original check or an electronic image of theoriginal check), whether with or without subsequent delivery of theoriginal paper check.

The UPPD system 10 is configured to be compatible and/or fullyoperational with CHECK 21 and can utilize transaction records includinga check number, a check amount, an account number, a routing number, acheck date, signatures, digitized signatures and matrixes and a checkpayee. The identity of the drawee-payer bank may be derived from therouting number. The transaction records are not limited to written checkinformation and can include other financial instruments such aselectronic checks, cash cards, credit cards, traveler's checks, moneyorders, gift certificates and cashier's checks. Although the customer(depositor) 30 may primarily use the UPPD system 10 for written checks,because of the similarity of financial records between these transactioninstruments, the UPPD system 10 can easily accommodate the transactionrecords for other transaction instruments as well.

For a customer 30, the UPPD system 10 has the flexibility to utilizeseveral means for inputting current transaction record parameters. Theseinclude computerized devices such as personal computers, portablelaptops and palmtops, as well as mainframe computers and servers, all ofwhich can be tied into the Internet and land based data bank.

The customer 30 can simply log onto the uniform resource locator of aWeb site of the UPPD database 20 and can then fill out a customized Webform to upload current transaction record parameters to the Web site byhypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or by e-mail. These types of formsare well-known to those schooled in the related art, as is the use ofthe Internet protocols to transmit forms information on the Internet.

Alternatively, the customer 30 can initially set up an account numberand enter an activation code or a preset encrypted code so thattransaction record parameters can be transmitted to the UPPD database 20and Web site by keying in the information by touchtone telephone, sothat conventional decoder machines link the information to the UPPDdatabase 20. A wireless telephony device can be used in the same manner,with either audible or subaudible tones corresponding to the keyspressed being modulated onto the radio frequency carrier, and then beingdemodulated on reception and linked to the UPPD database 20. Anotheralternative uses voice recognition software to encode informationreceived by telephone to enter transaction record parameters to the UPPDdatabase 20. Use of these telephony devices, voice recognition software,and systems are well-known to those skilled in the related art and arenot a point of novelty with this invention.

Additionally, technology such as optical character recognition devicesand magnetic ink character recognition devices can also be used as ameans for inputting current transaction record parameters from thecustomer 30. The magnetic ink character recognition devices and digitalreaders can also be used by commercial check generating entities at thepoint of presentment and point of encashment to read transaction recordparameters off of a written check, allowing matching, authenticated,authorization, settlement, and clearing.

Transaction record parameters may be provided to the UPPD database 20wirelessly and/or non-wirelessly. For example, the transaction recordparameters by be transmitted by modem or wirelessly using direct dialsoftware without going through a computer network, by facsimiletransmission, by mail, etc. Inputting transaction record parameters inthis manner, however, are typically not as convenient and popular asusing the Internet and existing ACHs 70, EFTs, wires, credit cards, orother financial communications networks.

A participating commercial entity, such as a commercial retail store 50,member bank 60, clearing house 70 and Federal Reserve 80 may match andcompare the information from the check with the transaction recordparameters in the UPPD system 10. Hence, a collecting bank intermediatethe presenting bank and the payer bank may validate the check bycomparing the transaction record parameters recorded in the UPPDdatabase 20 against the entries on the check to verify that the checkhas not been altered or tampered with. This may be done by logging ontoa web site associated with the UPPD system 10 over the Internet andsimply accessing the desired transaction record in the UPPD database 20.

If the check has been altered in any way, the participating commercialentity is immediately notified not to accept the altered check.Likewise, a customer 30 can instantly check the UPPD system 10 foreither a perfect match or a rejection of the check. An ACH 70 or FederalReserve Clearing Division 80 can also instantly check the UPPD system 10or reject an altered check based on the current transaction recordparameters.

The UPPD software may be configured to perform a partial or fullreal-time reconciliation of the transaction records for a customer 30 ona daily or weekly basis, depending on the needs of the customer 30. Thereconciliation for the customer 30 may be requested and transferred viathe Internet from the UPPD system 10.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the customer 30 can also upload the transactionrecord(s) to be reconciled to the customer's bank 40. The customer bank40 then passes the current transaction record(s) onto the UPPD system10, where the current transaction record(s) are reconciled and returnedto the customer 30 (via the Internet).

A polling option is also available where the customer 30 may uploadtheir current transaction record(s) directly to their bank 40. The UPPDsystem 10 may also dial up the bank 40 and poll the current transactionrecord(s) for download into the UPPD system 10. This polling isautomatically done with software that is part of the UPPD system 10.This is a pass through on the part of the customer bank 40, allowing thecustomer bank 40 to charge a fee for this service.

Similarly, at the end of each day, the UPPD system 10 can dial up thelocation of the customer 30 and poll the customer 30 for the currenttransaction record(s). The polling may occur either by an automatic dialup from the customer 30 to the UPPD system 10 or by the UPPD system 10automatically dialing up the customer 30 and downloading the currenttransaction record(s). Typically, one type of polling is chosen overanother, depending on the preference of the customer 30. Both types ofpolling utilize software that is incorporated into the UPPD system 10and can simply sweep the current check register files and download theminto the UPPD database 20.

The UPPD software may also be configured to search for and captureescheated transaction record(s). Escheated transaction record parametersare information on checks that have not been cashed and are “unclaimed”.Configured in this manner, the UPPD software continuously searches foroutstanding escheated transaction record parameters. The UPPD softwarecan track each state's individual escheatment laws and apply those lawswhich pertain to the customer 30.

Financial instruments that are never presented for encashment or neverredeemed are required to be reported as abandoned property in manystates. The face value of those financial instruments must be turnedover to the state with a record of the rightful owner on a periodicbasis. The data in the UPPD system 10 can be used to generate thesereports.

A microcomputer chip can also be embedded within the surface of afinancial instrument, such as a paper check, that could provide currenttransaction record parameters, additional security, digitizedinformation, signatures, PINs, and GPS tracking data. This providesanother fraud deterrent security feature along with the necessarytransaction record information used in the UPPD system 10. Thismicrocomputer chip, if altered or tampered with, can immediatelyindicate that a falsification and/or tampering has occurred with atransaction instrument.

Security detectable inks, tamper-proof foils, electron foils andthreads, as well as holograms can also be incorporated into a financialinstrument used in the UPPD system 10 to provide additional securityagainst fraud.

Newly developed wireless devices known as the cell wallet, the palmwallet, the e-wallet, NavCheck, and the cam wallet can also be used aspart of this UPPD system 10. Although existing cell phones and palmdevices are not a novelty, the cell wallet, the palm wallet, thee-wallet, and the cam wallet are novel in being used in conjunction withthe UPPD system 10.

These devices can be placed in a given vehicle and are known as NavCheckdevices. These NavCheck devices are unrelated to NAVchek credit linechecks of the Navy Federal Credit Union. For the purposes of makingevery component user friendly, the NavCheck device can be activated oncethe vehicle is started. Either a voice or digital message can appear onthe screen of the NavCheck device, asking the vehicle owner to entercurrent written transaction record parameters into the device, whichcould include the check amount, check number, and to who the check wasmade out.

The customer account number and date could be preset in the device fortransmission of the data to the UPPD system 10, along with providing thenecessary data for the transaction record(s) of the customer 30.

The NavCheck device may have the same capabilities as the cell wallet,palm wallet, e-wallet and cam wallet. A simple plug-in attachment tothese devices would allow the download of data and digitized pictures tothe UPPD system 10. With a microcomputer chip, a lost, stolen or forgedcheck can also be located through use of GPS utilizing the NavCheckdevice to locate the paper check or card. These devices also allow easefor the customer 30 to use electronic checks and transmit the check datato the UPPD system 10.

These devices may be configured with a refillable ball point pen and anoptical character reader to record all of the current transaction recordparameters of the check written. These devices may also be configured tooperate via voice recognition. As the customer 30 writes the check, theysimply state the current transaction record parameters. The device mayalready have the account number of the customer 30 and the date preset,and the transaction record parameters may be entered into the device anda signal sent daily downloading the wireless transaction recordparameters of these wallet devices to the UPPD system 10. These devicesmay also be configured to have optical character recognition scanning toenable the customer 30 to scan the check that was just written, and/ordigitize the check.

If a customer 30 elects not to carry a paper checkbook or single papercheck, they may utilize the option of converting to an electronic checkthrough these devices. The customer 30 may also elect to key in thetransaction record parameters by punching in the correct data on akeypad. All methods on these devices enable the customer 30 to providethe necessary transaction record parameters to the UPPD system 10.

One of the more important features of the UPPD system 10 is checkverification services, which are outlined in FIGS. 3 and 4. The checkverification services feature allows the commercial retail entity 50 toaccess the customer's 30 history of writing checks, giving a negative orpositive rating. This can be done in addition to accessing thepreviously discussed transaction record(s).

When a given commercial retail entity 50 is presented a customer's checkat the point of sale, the commercial retail entity 50 sends the UPPDsystem 10 a signal which is then sent to the check verification servicesprovider 90. The check verification services provider 90 then accessesthe customer's 30 check history and gives a positive or negative ratingbased on whether there are any checks that have not been honored. Ifthere are any dishonored checks written presented by the customer 30, anegative rating may be given. If there are no dishonored checks, apositive rating may be given.

Once the rating has been established, a signal is then sent back to theUPPD system 10 and back to the commercial retail entity 50 wirelesslyand/or non-wirelessly. It is up to the commercial retail entity 50, whatto do with this rating. In other words, it is up to the commercialretail entity's 50 discretion whether to accept a customer's 30 checkbased on this rating.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, each participant in the checkclearing process (payer customer 30, payee 100, payee bank 110, FederalReserve 80, clearing bank 70, or payer bank 120), participates in a UPPDmethod 130 used by a payer (customer) 30 for maintaining check paymentcontrol and preventing check fraud. The UPPD method 130 includes aseries of steps in which payer 30 uploads check information to the UPPDsystem 10, payee 100 deposits check in payee bank 110, payee bank 110checks the check against the UPPD database 20 in the UPPD system 10,check is deposited in Federal Reserve 80 or clearing bank 70, whichchecks it against the UPPD database 20, payer bank 120 receives checkand checks it against the UPPD database 20 and reports back to the UPPDsystem 10 that the check has been debited from payer's 30 account.

The first step of the UPPD method 130 is uploading transaction recordparameters into the UPPD system 10. As indicated earlier, thisinformation may include a check number, a check amount, an accountnumber, a routing number, a check date, signature and signaturedigitalization and a payee 100. This information is stored in the UPPDdatabase 20 and is compared with the information that is on the physicalcheck as it runs through each step of the check clearing process. Thepayer 30 also physically writes the check and gives it to the payee 100before the transaction record parameters are uploaded into the UPPDsystem 10.

As touched on earlier, there are numerous ways that transaction recordparameters can be uploaded into the UPPD system 10. These include a Webform on the Internet, where an account holder goes to a private Web pageand enters the transaction record parameters. There are also clientapplication software programs that can reside on an account holder'scomputer and transmit the transaction record parameters via modem and anon-network connection to the UPPD system 10. Voice activated clientsoftware that receives transaction record parameters input via voice canalso be used and is known to those skilled in the related art.

Scanner technology attached to a computer that reads a check andtransmits data, as well as bar code readers, can also be used to uploadtransaction record parameters. Wireless and/or non-wireless data entryutilizing manual and/or vocal input can be used to transmit data as wellas 2-way paging devices, including infrared and laser technologies. Evenordinary mail or delivery services can be used to deliver data to thephysical address of the UPPD system 10 (to be entered by hand).

The next step of the UPPD method 130 involves the payee 100 receivingthe physical check and depositing the check into his or her bank accountat the payee's bank 100. The payee's bank 100 utilizes optical characterrecognition, infrared, laser check reader devices or magnetic inkcharacter recognition technology to scan the check and upload the checkregister check information to the UPPD database 20 (usually via theInternet). This may normally be done automatically with the pollingsoftware previously discussed. The UPPD system 10 receives notificationwhen the check clears, as it may for each redundant step of thefinancial transaction clearing process.

The next step of the UPPD method 130 involves the payee's bank 100checking and verifying the transaction record parameters from the checkwith the transaction record parameters from the UPPD database 20. Thisis done to detect fraudulent tampering or unauthorized use of the checkearly in the financial transaction clearing process and is an advantageover some of the current methods outlined in the related art.

The next step of the UPPD method 130 involves the payee's bank 100depositing the check into a regional Federal Reserve Clearing Division80 or clearing house 70. Like the previous step involving the payee'sbank 100, the Federal Reserve 80 or clearing house 70 checks the checkagainst the UPPD system 10 for check tampering or fraud again for addedsecurity and redundancy.

The next step of the UPPD method 130 involves the Federal Reserve 80 orACH 70 sending the check to the payer's bank 120. The check is againchecked and compared with the transaction record parameters in the UPPDdatabase 20 for check tampering and fraud by the payer's bank 120, whichapproves the check for payment. The check is then debited from theaccount of the payer 30 and the UPPD system 10 is notified, which is thefinal step of the UPPD method 130.

Each participant in the check clearing process has an opportunity to addto and receive information from the UPPD system 10. This information canbe used for account verification and notification of a check that wasrejected due to unauthorized issue, evidence of tampering or accountowner cancellation. Status of a check as to where it is in the clearingprocess is also readily available. A check query notice is sent to apayer 30 whenever their records are accessed and a deposit acceptancenotice is sent to a payee 100 and payer 30 when a check is accepted.

It should be noted, as seen on FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 that the Positive Payexists today in the financial industry. However, it is defined as bankspecific Positive Pay. Bank specific Positive Pay is nothing more than acustomer 30 downloading his check register to their bank 60 daily. Likeliving on a cul-de-sac, the customers 30 and the bank 60 only havecommunication with themselves and anyone who is a neighbor customer onlybanking with that specific bank on that system. If they live on the nextblock, next city, or another state, they have no way to communicate.There is no connectivity, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Another example of use for the UPPD system 10 is that the declarationspage of an insurance policy can be provided with a series of numbersidentical or similar to a MICR line across the bottom of a check. Withinthis line would be the policy number, issue date, policy amounts andeffective dates. All of the information would become similar to a checkregister and could be downloaded from an insurance company to the UPPDdatabase 20. The positive match between the file accepted from thecarrier issuing the policy and that received from the agent keeps thepolicy from being altered.

The UPPD system 10 also allows for complete connectivity, allowing banks60, commercial retail entities 50 and even customers 30 to communicatedirectly or indirectly through the UPPD database 20 by matching thepositive data sent by the customer 30. The customer 30 can upload hischeck register of written checks to the bank 60 under bank specificPositive Pay, but is then restricted from a universal verification forauthenticity. As shown in FIG. 9, under the UPPD system 10, the customer30 uploads his check register directly to the UPPD database 20. Anymember commercial retail entity 50 or contracted third party verifier140 can send check data to the UPPD database 20 for verification.

The signal passes through the match, authentication, authorization,settlement, and clearing system 10 for matching. If the signal matchesthe check register data present, the signal is then sent to thecustomer's bank 40, where it checks for sufficient funds, stop payments,liens, account status (open or closed), funds available to cover anycheck (overdraft protection, etc.), and any other verifications toprovide a signal back through the UPPD system 10, enroute to thequerying party to either accept, reject or not approve the check. Ifthere has been a fraud, it is discovered instantly. If there areinsufficient funds, the bank may elect to approve or reject based on itscustomer relationship.

As shown in FIG. 10, the UPPD system 10 may utilize stalled debit ordebit stall services 150 provided by the bank 60. Normally, when a checkis presented, based on the bank's 60 customer relationship orcontractual relationship, the bank 60 would be allowed to debit thecustomer account immediately under normal debit procedures.

The stalled debit 150 allows the institution to stall the debit byissuing a credit to the commercial retail entity 50, financialinstitution or party seeking the debit. The stalled debit 150 providesthat the amount of the debit from a check, a debit check or a debitcard, allows the institution and their customer the use of a float. Themoney in the account is held at the side and awaits the normal checkclearing, electronic, paper or plastic procedure to take the allottedtime by the Federal Reserve 80 to allocate the cash from thistransaction.

The debit stall 150 sets aside the money for the transaction within thecustomer's bank 40. If the next check that comes in is now over thebalance within the account of the customer 30, the institution, based ontheir customer relationship, can reject the next transaction and stateinsufficient funds, or accept the transaction and stall the debit basedon overdraft protection from charge cards, direct bank loans, zerobalance account or any other method the bank 40 feels necessary toprovide to their customer 30. As a result of the UPPD system 10, thecheck register, matching data, verification data and authentication datamay be archived and stored for a desired period of time, e.g., sevenyears or the like.

This is referred to herein as a Safety Check Deposit 160, as depicted inFIG. 11. For a fee, the data may be stored and recaptured for thecustomer 30 or customer bank 40 for retrieval on disasters,catastrophes, bankruptcy, law suits, tax audits, probate and estatere-creation, along with many more reasons the customer 30 might wish forcheck data retrieval. These may also be subscribed to under the FairCredit Reporting Act.

There are two tiers of tracking for checks, official items, giftcertificates, money orders and other types of data, such aspharmaceutical data, medical data, insurance data and other financialservices. The first tier, which utilizes TrackBack software, has theUPPD system 10 track and search for outstanding codes, numbers andencrypted data on an item waiting to be redeemed, cashed or provided ata point of presentment.

The TrackBack software provides exclusive use to the customer 30 inlocating lost, stolen, misplaced items, or items not presented and thatremain outstanding. The second tier of the TrackBack software isutilized for locating instruments through use of GPS. Additionally,instruments of any value may be located in the event of stolen, lost,fraudulent or forged documents. This is also depicted in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 13, a complete historical behavior of customer 30 checkwriting habits may be compiled to provide another level of security. Ifa customer writes twenty checks a month, the customer's behavior matrix180 may track this, much like a credit card. If a large check arises orchecks appear from different parts of the country outside a customer's30 residence, an alert may prompt an abnormality from the customer'sbehavior matrix 180 and trigger a confirmation that any changes are notsecurity breaches on historical data compiled.

With the historical check writing data compiled from the UPPD database20 and the customer's behavior matrix 180, a complete credit history 190may be generated. The UPPD database 20 may compile credit histories forthe proper parties, including the customer's 30 usage for fraud,insufficient funds, late pays, etc. This also meets the requirements forthe Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The UPPD system 10 can also operate in a peer to peer mode. This allowsa financial institution, ATM network 55 or other entity to house a hostor server. This host/server configuration would allow an institution theability to secure data from their customer 30 and pass this directly tothe UPPD system 10. This allows the institution the ability to housetheir own customer accounts securely on their own server.

A peer to peer mode also allows the entity the option to carry the dataload and have an off-site source UPPD system 10 for back-up andcatastrophe handling, along with connectivity from peer to peer. All ofthe transmissions would still occur as stated to allow the connectivityto multiple sites in lieu of being bank specific.

The term “reverse pay” or “negative pay” is similar to the UPPD process,except that the process is reversed with the customer 30 that downloadstheir check register. Like “Positive Pay”, reverse pay is utilized asbank specific, and thus it has no connectivity. It does not allow pointA to communicate beyond point B through the UPPD database 20 and themany networks connecting all points to the UPPD database 20.

With reverse pay or negative pay, not only does the account keep a listof issued checks, through their check register, but the UPPD database 20keeps a list of the customers' issued checks. When a check is presentedfor payment and clears through the Federal Reserve 80, the FederalReserve 80 prepares a file of the dollar amounts of the checks, serialnumbers and account numbers, and sends the file to the financialinstitution on a bank specific reverse pay format.

In reverse pay (bank specific), the financial institution sends the fileto the customer 30, where the customer 30 compares the information toits internal records. The customer 30 lets the financial institutionknow which checks match its internal information and the financialinstitutions pays those items. The financial institution then researchesthe checks that do not match, correcting any encoding errors and anymisreads and determines if the items are fraudulent. The financialinstitution pays only the real or true exceptions that can be reconciledwith the customers' files.

Universal reverse pay or universal negative pay takes this reverse matchto an even higher level of security by having all pass through the UPPDdatabase 20 back to the bank 60 and the customer 30 and uses either thedebit stall or stalled debit 150 to hold funds, but assure the debtorthat the funds are not insufficient funds. They are in a stalled debit150 stall and are transferred once the check goes through the regularand normal clearing process and funds availability requirements. Thedebtor to a debit plastic card or debit paper check can be given acredit slip on verification of authenticity.

A check writing software package, known as DirectCheck, is provided tothe bank 60 and its customers 30, and utilizes the match,authentication, authorization, settlement, and clearing system 10 or thereverse pay/negative pay module, allowing connectivity to variousnetworks, communications devices and the Internet. This DirectChecksoftware runs on MICR laser printers of various manufacturers andprovide security features in printing on blank secure paper checks,official items, financial items and other documents. The TrackBacksoftware may also be included in the DirectCheck software.

Customers 30 provide signatures for official items to be used by theUPPD system 10. The signatures are digitized and recognition softwareverifies signature matrixes for any abnormalities.

The UPPD system 10 may be configured for enhanced security byassociating transaction record parameters for customers to the UPPDsystem 10 via biometrics. Biometrics is the technology of personalidentification through validation of an individual's unique physicalcharacteristics, such as DNA, facial structure, iris, retina, fingerprint(s), voice, signature recognition, etc.

The UPPD system 10 also has the ability to allow or provide imaged,digitized, or electronic conversions of checks, debit cards, debitchecks, plastic check cards, smartcards, and paper checks from devicesincluded within the UPPD system 10. The UPPD system 10 may issue oraccept digitized checks for clearing, matching, verifying andauthenticating. Information such as check amounts, coding, routingnumbers, check dates, signatures, digitized signatures, matrixes andaccount numbers may be verified for a positive match.

The UPPD system 10 provides that check readers continue in theretail-marketplace, as has been custom. It is the intent of the checkreaders to be placed at every teller station and on the ATM networkstations 55. For readers that provide check data, digitalization may beutilized to place the readers at every possible location acceptingchecks, debit cards and paper debit checks along with the deposit of anyother official item. These readers transmit, via a purchased directline, information to the UPPD system 10. The UPPD system 10 may utilizeexisting networks, such as ATMs 55, AT&T frame systems, automatedclearing house 70 networks, credit card networks and third parties 140,such as TeleCheck, Equifax, and CrossChecks.

Electronic foils can be embedded within plastic and paper instruments totransmit the written material data from a customer 30. Foils and chipswithin the instruments may provide additional security with encryptedserialized match numbers. The UPPD system 10 requires check readers andcredit card readers to transmit a personalized digitized signature bandor wavelength to any waiting devices for data recovery and instanttransmission. These chips and foils may be programmable and configuredfor use with GPS. A special watermark or hologram can also be placed onthese instruments for further security.

A customer 30 can also receive rewards for proper and timely exchange ofpertinent data. These rewards can include frequent flyer miles as wellas travel or other merchandise.

The UPPD system 10 may also provide the capturing and storing ofelectronic presentation or payment of checks. This includes capturingand storing electronic images of checks. By matching the UPPD system 10protocol, these checks allow financial institutions to make paymentdecisions in real-time by getting access over the Internet, peer to peertransmissions, modems, landlines, wireless systems, check readers andother communications devices, as shown in FIG. 14.

The electronic processing of the UPPD system 10 also allows customers 30to view their check register immediately in real-time to determineexceptions, stop pays, insufficient funds, missed items, cancelledchecks and voids. A customer 30 writes a check at the point of purchase,point of encashment and/or point of presentment and the checkinformation, which can be digitized, imaged or copied, is sent to theUPPD system 10 for authorization and authentication. This same processcan also be done through a third party 140 sending the check data to theUPPD system 10.

Once the transaction is completed and approved, the customer 30 signs anauthorization slip. The customer 30 is provided with a copy of theauthorization slip stamped or printed on the back of the check or debitcheck as “cancelled or voided”. The debit check or check is cancelledand can be returned to the customer 30 on the spot. Since the checkshave been converted electronically, they can be transmitted from eitherthe commercial retail entity 50 directly to the merchant bank or throughthe UPPD system 10, to provide a batch of electronically authenticatedelectronic checks for deposit and use of either the ACH 70, EFT andstalled debits 150 by the financial institution to the account of thecustomer 30.

As a result, check clearing is done instantly rather than through thecumbersome check clearing system that currently exists. The cancelledcheck image, digitalization or data from the check can be archived forthe customer 30, the bank 60 and commercial retail entity 50 asdescribed in a universal Positive Pay, universal reverse pay, oruniversal negative pay system. This provides the UPPD system 10 thecustomer's check writing behavioral matrix 180 and the credit history190 gathered on the customer 30, and provides the UPPD system 10 withthe ability to guarantee payment of check funds.

Additionally, the UPPD system 10 has the ability to accept relationshipswith third parties 140, bank clearing houses 70, ATMs, check guaranteefirms and more. This further allows additional security, lower checkfees, lower check clearing fees, returned checks, and allows all partiesto settle and balance, including real-time check reconciliation for thecustomer 30, the commercial retail entity 50, and the bank 60.

This also allows the UPPD system 10, the bank member 60 and the customer30 the ability to guarantee checks for ISF and more importantly,authentication and detection of fraud on debit cards, debit checks,plastic check cards, smart check cards, payroll cards, cash cards, andpaper checks instantly. This allows safer use and guarantees imaged,digitized, and electronic check conversions to all parties involved.

The UPPD system 10 allows a customer 30 and bank member 60 to inventoryand reconcile in real-time. Once the check register or any positivematch information is provided, the customer 30 expedites the checkrelated credit postings and the check return process. This allows sameday instant clearing and reconciliation on paid checks. Giftcertificates and money orders may be treated in the same fashion as acheck under the UPPD system 10. The customer 30 uploads the creation ofthis real-time or at a specified time daily. The UPPD system 10 treatsany fraud or ISF issues just like any other official item.

Through the UPPD system 10, digitized, electronic and paper items arecleared in the same fashion as clearing items similar to the FederalReserve 80 or a third party check clearing house 70 or bank. The UPPDsystem 10 provides the proper platform and protocol for clearing anyitems for both a positive match, an universal reverse pay match andcreation of a negative file. The negative file is a file compilingcredit history on the customer 30, along with his historical checkwriting behavior.

There are thousands of different types of accounting software packagesbeing utilized by financial institutions, commercial accounts, retailestablishments and merchants. The UPPD system 10, universal reverse payand universal negative pay systems can be provided commercially and mayalso be available by downloading from the Internet for a fee. Thesesystems may be used by or connected to for personal use as well ascommercial use by any entity desiring complete connectivity andaccountability to a standardized form of accounting procedures thatallow further security, easier connectivity and a standard protocol.

In FIGS. 15A and 15B, bank specific Positive Pay processes 200 are shownthat may be used with the UPPD processes of the invention. Initially,the payer/payee provides check issue data 202 (e.g., the date, amount,check number, MICR, bank number, routing number, payable to the orderof, any desirable security features, etc.). All gathered data is thensubmitted for payment and is then compared to the check issue data 204.Any and all exception items can be identified and physically out sortedto remedy 206. Once exception items are identified, the payer/payee arenotified of any incurable items where a NO PAY/PAY decision is made 208.Once the incurable items are identified, the payer/payee is notified.The items are either paid or returned pursuant to the payer/payeeinstructions 210. A payer/payee UPPD Plus Pay or Issue File is thencreated 220. The Issue File may then be uploaded to the UPPD databaseaccording to the invention. As shown in FIGS. 15C-15K, once the IssueFile is uploaded to the UPPD, various UPPD options 240, 242, 244, 246occur dependent on users 224, 226, 228, 230, 250, 252, 260, 270, 272, or274.

The functional diagram 300 in FIG. 16 illustrates how the UPPD 314 isconfigured to interact with bank databases 312, and customers 314. Thefunctional diagram 400 in FIG. 17 illustrates how the UPPD database 310uploads and/or downloads data with users 412 and 414 that may beinterconnected with a fire wall 416 of shared data.

The functional diagram 500 in FIG. 18 illustrates how the UPPD database510 is interconnected with a customer insufficient funds overdrafthistory 520, a customer behavior matrix 522, a customer evaluation riskmatrix for bank 524, a customer bank 530, a customer behavior matrix540, secure a check software 550, and customer check writing and checkregister 560.

A functional diagram 600 of an electronic check recovery UPPD processaccording to the present invention is shown in FIG. 19. A functionaldiagram 1050 of a file download, lockbox, and drop box. UPPD processaccording to the present invention is shown in FIG. 20. Flow charts offile download, lockbox, and drip box UPPD processes 700 and 710according to the present invention are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 21Aand 21B.

The file download, lockbox, and drip box UPPD process 700 illustrateshow a document correspondence arrives and the payment is presorted.Correspondence may be presorted by the payer, the payee, bank(s),institution(s), company(s), etc. Electronic, truncated, traditionalcheck, ACH, EFT, and/or other means may be utilized and/or considered asdocument correspondence, as shown in FIG. 21B. Correspondence may alsobe sorted based on the amount due, the late amount, multiple paymentand/or no coupon categories. The payment is then captured by paymenttype and a daily capture is made. At the end of the day, a lockbox dropbox may be loaded, and the lockbox may be archived.

Once the lockbox is archived the payer and/or payee customer has accessto the lockbox archive. The lockbox archive may also be backed up on anymagnetic, optic, and/or electronic memory device as desired, such as CDROM, tape, the Internet, computer network(s), etc. The backups may bereviewed to verify the integrity of the back up. If a backup failureoccurs and/or is detected, a failure report may be generated for users,and/or the backup may be corrected based on the failure. The finalbackup may be checked and backup preparation for the next day may beinitiated.

The daily data capture may then be processed by a deposit correctionsystem to determine whether corrections are required and/or desired inaccordance with any predetermined conditions. Deposit and/or batchreports may be generated and may be reviewed. Deposits are then balancedand stops are pulled from the lockbox to enable cash letters to beprepared. Payment is then made and clean up and preparation is then madefor the next day.

When document correspondence arrives, company return correspondence maybe sorted by the payer, the payee, bank(s), institution(s), company(s),etc. The service provider, the payer, the payee, bank(s),institution(s), and/or company(s) envelope(s) may then be sent.

In FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D, bank specific Positive Pay processes800 are shown in use with UPPD processes of the invention. Initially,the payer/payee provides check issue data 802 (e.g., the date, amount,check number, MICR, bank number, routing number, payable to the orderof, any desirable security features, etc.). All gathered data is thensubmitted for payment and is then compared to the check issue data 804.Any and all exception items can be identified and physically out sortedto remedy 806. Once exception items are identified, the payer/payee arenotified of any incurable items where a NO PAY/PAY decision is made 808.Once the incurable items are identified, the payer/payee is notified.The items are either paid or returned pursuant to the payer/payeeinstructions 810. A payer/payee UPPD Plus Pay or Issue File is thencreated 820. The Issue File may then be uploaded to a UPPD databaseaccording to the invention.

Once the Issue File is uploaded to the UPPD database 820, the Issue Filemay be uploaded and/or downloaded from the payer/payee bank, uploadedand/or directly from the payer/payee, uploaded and/or downloaded from aperimeter of network(s), disparate database(s), disparate network(s),retail(s), merchant(s), institution(s), and company(s). FIG. 22C showshow any and/or all networks may be interconnected.

Users may include the payer/payee bank 830, retail(s) 854, thepayee/payer 856, bank(s), ATM(s), localized network ofcommercial/personal entities 860, the drawer/drawer bank 880. Data mayinclude payee information, data, biometrics 840, payer information,data, biometrics 842, etc. Interconnection may occur via a network, PCto PC, business to business, peer to peer 852, a switch network,disparate, localized, or full scale network 870. FIGS. 23A, 23B, 23C,23D, and 23E show flow charts 900 of UPPD processes according to thepresent invention. Initially, the payer/payee provides check issue data902 (e.g., the date, amount, check number, MICR, bank number, routingnumber, payable to the order of, any desirable security features, etc.).All gathered data is then submitted for payment and is then compared tothe check issue data 904. Any and all exception items can be identifiedand physically out sorted to remedy 906. Once exception items areidentified, the payer/payee are notified of any incurable items where aNO PAY/PAY decision is made 908. Once the incurable items areidentified, the payer/payee is notified. The items are either paid orreturned pursuant to the payer/payee instructions 910. FIG. 23B showshow UPPD transaction records of financial transactions may correspond toany type of transaction account, such as a checking account, a savingsaccount, a credit card account, a money market account, a liabilityaccount, a bills/payable account, an asset account, aninvoice/receivables account, a cash account, an insurance policyaccount, an account for a will, an account for a trust, or any otherfinancial account. In a similar manner, FIG. 23C shows how UPPDprocesses for use with reverse pay situations that deal with transactionrecords of financial transactions corresponding to any type oftransaction account. FIG. 23D shows UPPD processes for any type ofsituation (e.g., Positive Pay, reverse pay, negative pay, etc.). FIG.23E illustrates UPPD processes for networks with ATM systems.

The UPPD processes may be configured to receive origination attributesassociated with a transaction instrument to the UPPD database and storethe received origination attributes in the UPPD database. This enablesthe birth of the transaction instrument, e.g., the document, officialitem, debit card, debit check, smartcard, check(s) for the payer/payee,drawer/drawee bank(s), institution(s), company(s), originationattributes associated with the origination of the financial instrumentto be uploaded from a paper mill, manufacturer, distributor, etc. Theorigination attributes can include the date of creation, the time ofcreation, security features, biometrics, plant location, the pressman,the date shipped, etc., and provides a payer/payee standing fileresiding within the UPPD database that is readable by all parties.Generally, the origination attributes may be an origination entity, anorigination location, an origination date, an origination time, securityfeatures, biometrics, origination personnel, origination shipping date,etc. Transaction records for any financial transaction may also beprocessed with the UPPD software.

Functional diagrams 1000 of UPPD processes according to the presentinvention are shown in FIGS. 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, and 24F. Thesediagrams 1000 show the use of truncation banks with the UPPD system andwhat occurs when the payer presents a transaction instrument at a POSfinancial transaction. FIG. 24D illustrates what occurs when the UPPDchecks whether a retailer is using a UPPD payroll check.

A functional diagram 1050 of a UPPD process regarding an electroniccheck presentment according to the present invention is shown in FIG.25. Functional diagrams 1100 of UPPD processes regarding POE, POP, andPOS financial transactions according to the present invention are shownin FIGS. 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E. A functional diagram 1200 of aUPPD system according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 27.Functional diagrams 1300 and 1310 of UPPD processes according to thepresent invention are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 28A and 28B.

A functional diagram 1400 of a point of sale transaction utilizing aUPPD system according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 29. Thisdiagram 1400 illustrates the process that occurs when a POS, POE, or POPterminal asks whether a bank associated with a financial instrumentpresented for a POS, POE, or POP financial transaction is a UPPD member.A functional diagram 1500 of a UPPD, system regarding ACH, EFT, or othermoney transfer processes according to the present invention is shown inFIG. 30. A functional diagram 1600 of a UPPD system regarding Check 21,wireless, imaging, ACH, EFT, etc., according to the present invention isshown in FIG. 31.

Functional diagrams 1700, 1710, 1720, 1730, 1740, 1750 of UPPD processesregarding transparency according to the present invention are shown,respectively, in FIGS. 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, and 32F. A functionaldiagram 1800 of the use of a personal identification number (PIN) with aUPPD system according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 33.Functional diagrams 1900 and 1910 of UPPD processes according to thepresent invention are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 34A and 34B.

Diagrams 2000 and 2010 of security measures for use with a UPPD systemaccording to the present invention are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 35Aand 35B. A functional diagram 2100 of biometric security measures foruse with a UPPD system according to the present invention is shown inFIG. 36. A functional diagram 2200 of a UPPD system according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 37.

A UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium according to theinvention can reposition the way commercial and personal checks, debitcards, and debit check are processed. The UPPD system, method, and/orcomputer useable medium eliminates the potential fraud associated withthese checks, but can drive down transaction costs associated with suchchecks, to the benefit of all parties involved in the process.

The UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium can, thru thirdparty vendors currently in business, verify the validity of a commercialcheck, at the point of sale, and move the associated fundselectronically, avoiding both paper processing, and the Federal ReserveACH. In doing so, fraud is eliminated and transaction costs are greatlyreduced. Parties that can benefit through use of the UPPD databaseinclude the merchant, the check guarantee vendor, the check issuer, theon-us bank, etc.

By providing service via the UPPD system, merchants can now takecommercial checks as payment for goods. This brings customers into theirbusinesses, and increases sales, without the risk of loss. Given thatthe checks can be terminated at the point of sale, thru existingequipment, the cost for depositing that item goes down, saving themerchants depository fees, as well as staff time in preparing andbalancing check deposits.

Most check guarantee vendors charge their merchants on a per transactionbasis. By adding commercial checks to the offering via the UPPD system,the volume of checks guaranteed may increase, resulting in increasedrevenue to the check guarantee provider.

The UPPD system offers companies issuing checks an increased likelihoodthat any attempts at defrauding the company thru check manipulation maybe stopped at the point of encashment. Additionally, since the checksare cleared electronically, cost is driven from the transaction, givingthe check issuing company an opportunity for a reduction in bank relatedfees.

Since the checks of an on-us bank may be verified at the point ofencashment with the UPPD system, the potential for fraud is eliminated,reducing exposure for both the bank, and the banks check issuing client.Additionally, since the check is processed entirely by the UPPD system,the bank may not incur either paper processing costs, or ACH fees. Thisallows the bank the option of increased margin, while passing a savingsto its client.

The inventive UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium is thefirst technology to authenticate a paper check for all processes withina financial institution's check clearing chain. Any point along theclearing chain that finds a discrepancy can stop the check processindefinitely or until the discrepancy has been validated. To makeparticipation easy, the UPPD system, method, and/or computer useablemedium relies on an Issue File format which coincides with the PositivePay file format, as well as enables the use of additional features. Whenthe account holder produces checks, the UPPD database can be updatedinstantly with the correct check information. This way the UPPD system,method, and/or computer useable medium offers far greater check securityfor the most common types of check fraud—the forged or stolen check.

Since the UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium caneliminate the clearing chain, it can provide an even greater level ofprotection against check and debit check fraud. For one of manyexamples, when a UPPD Check Issuer, located in Houston, prints checks,an electronic record of each check is loaded into the UPPD. If one ofthose checks is presented at Home Depot in Chicago, then severalscenarios could occur.

If Home Depot is not a member of the UPPD network, they then must make ablind decision on whether to cash the check or not, and wait a number ofdays to learn whether the check was valid. If Home Depot is a UPPDmember, they would scan the check, and the electronic record would betransmitted to the UPPD database, and matched against the original checkissue, which could yield the following results: (1) The match issuccessful, and Home Depot can accept the check as payment for themerchandise; (2) The match is unsuccessful, and Home Depot rejects thecheck, and avoids a loss from a fraudulent instrument.

Depending on the level of matching information, the Check Issuer, andhis bank can receive warnings of attempted encashments against the bankand the account. By building a history of attempted fraudulentencashments, the UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium canbecome instrumental in the pinpointing of patterns, and be able topredict future attempts. This information will become valuable in theeventual identification of habitual perpetrators, and the eliminationfraud rings.

With the UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable medium, as soon asthe fraud is identified, the UPPD database will be updated and the checkstopped before it clears, protecting the account holders' funds.

UPPD offers the greatest possibility to eliminate check fraud over anyother check fraud detection system. As the numbers of participatingfinancial institutions and merchants grow, the possibility of checkfraud is diminished. This is based on the fact that the UPPD databaseprovides a single repository of information for all financialinstitutions and check issuers to populate, and all merchants to use tovalidate the authenticity of the check. The following is a simpleexample of how the UPPD system, method, and/or computer useable mediumwould work.

Via existing technology using traditional phone, data lines or over theInternet, a business or other check issuing entity may routinely send tothe UPPD system an Issue File that provides information regarding checkswritten against their account. The file includes a record of eachcheck's issue date, amount, check number, account number, and the payeename. When the check is presented for encashment, the UPPD system can beaccessed to verify that the information on the check matches the IssueFile downloaded by the check issuer to the UPPD system. If theinformation is inconsistent or unavailable, the UPPD system can notifythe requestor. If the check has been forged or altered, the paymentprocess can be interrupted and the loss avoided.

While the invention has been described with references to its preferredembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teaching of the inventionwithout departing from its essential teachings.

1-199. (canceled)
 200. A computer implemented method for detecting fraudin financial transactions during a payment clearing process, said methodcomprising: storing in a database records of financial transactionsrelating to payments, including at least a first record of a firstfinancial transaction, each financial transaction record including aplurality of parameters, receiving at the database a plurality ofseparate records of the first financial transaction from at least two ofthe following participants in the payment clearing process: payee, payeebank, intermediary bank, bank of first deposit, clearing bank, FederalReserve Bank, third party payment processor and payer bank; each of saidseparate records received at the database including at least some of thesame parameters stored in the first record, determining if there is amatch between at least two of the parameters of each said separaterecord of the first financial transaction received at the database andthe same parameters of the first record of the first financialtransaction stored in the database, and sending a notification to theparticipant regarding the matching of the parameters of the separaterecord with the first record.
 201. The computer implemented method ofclaim 200 for detecting fraud in financial transactions, wherein theparameters include at least two of the following: check number, amount,account number, routing number, issue date, and payee.
 202. The computerimplemented method of claim 200 for detecting fraud in financialtransactions, wherein the first financial transaction may be at leastone of check payment, credit card payment, debit card payment, andelectronic payment.
 203. The computer implemented method of claim 200for detecting fraud in financial transactions, wherein the databasereceives the first record of the first financial transaction from one ofthe following: a point of sale (POS), a point of presentment (POP), apoint of encashment (POE), a point of data (POD), an automated tellermachine, an online account, an interne point of sale, and a mobiledevice.
 204. The computer implemented method of claim 200 for detectingfraud in financial transactions, wherein the computer performs at leasttwo of the following steps: archiving check register information in arecord, storing check register information in a record, matching data ina record, verifying data in a record, and authenticating data in arecord.
 205. The computer implemented method of claim 200 for detectingfraud in financial transactions, wherein the computer performs the stepof compiling a behavior matrix for a payer based upon the financialtransaction records of the payer stored in the database.
 206. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 200 for detecting fraud infinancial transactions, wherein the computer performs the step ofauthenticating the record of the first financial transaction receivedfrom a participant in the payment clearing process with information inthe first record and communicating to the participant the results of theauthenticating.
 207. A computer implemented method for detecting fraudin a check clearing process, said method comprising: providing acomputer having a database; storing in said database check registerinformation relating to a check executed by a payer for payment, thecheck register information including at least three of the following: acheck number, a date issued, a payee, a routing number, an accountnumber, and an amount; providing a network interface available to atleast two participants in the check clearing process selected from thegroup comprising: the payer who executed the check, a payee of theexecuted check, a payee bank, a payer bank, banking institutionsintermediate the payee bank and the payer bank, a clearing bank, aFederal Reserve Bank, and a third party processor; enabling the at leasttwo participants to communicate separately with the computer via thenetwork interface in order to determine correspondence between the checkregister information stored in said database and the check registerinformation on the executed check as it is presented for payment as itmoves along the check clearing process; providing a notification to eachof the at least two participants, wherein the notification includesresults of the correspondence determination to detect whether tamperingor altering has occurred to the executed check as it moves along thecheck clearing process.
 208. The computer implemented method of claim207 for detecting fraud in a check clearing process, wherein the firstcheck may be at least one of written check payment, electronic checkpayment, imaged check payment, check card payment, and debit cardpayment.
 209. The computer implemented method of claim 207 for detectingfraud in a check clearing process, wherein the database receives thefirst record of the first check from one of the following: a point ofsale (POS), a point of presentment (POP), a point of encashment (POE), apoint of data (POD), an automated teller machine, an online account, aninternet point of sale, and a mobile device.
 210. The computerimplemented method of claim 207 for detecting fraud in a check clearingprocess, wherein the computer automatically polls for check registerinformation for receiving and storing on the database.
 211. The computerimplemented method of claim 207 for detecting fraud in a check clearingprocess, wherein the computer performs at least two of the followingsteps: archiving check register information in a record, storing checkregister information in a record, matching data in a record, verifyingdata in a record, and authenticating data in a record.
 212. The computerimplemented method of claim 207 for detecting fraud in a check clearingprocess, wherein the computer performs the step of compiling a behaviormatrix for a payer based upon the checking account records of the payerstored in the database.
 213. The computer implemented method of claim207 for detecting fraud in a check clearing process, wherein thecomputer performs the step of authenticating the record of the firstcheck received from a participant in the check clearing process withinformation in the first record and communicating to the participant theresults of the authenticating.
 214. A computer implemented method fordetecting errors in processing financial transactions, said methodcomprising: providing at least one computer having a processor, an areaof main memory, and a storage device having a database; storing in thedatabase records of financial transactions relating to payments,including at least a first record of a first financial transaction, eachfinancial transaction record including a plurality of parameters;receiving at the computer a second record of the first financialtransaction from a participant in a payment clearing process as thefirst financial transaction moves through the payment clearing process,the second record including at least some of the same parameters thatare in the first record of the first financial transaction, wherein theparticipant is selected from the group comprising: payee, payee bank,intermediary bank, bank of first deposit, clearing bank, Federal ReserveBank, payer bank and third party payment processor; determining if thereis a match between at least one of the parameters of the second recordof the first financial transaction received at the computer and one ofthe same parameters in the first record of the first financialtransaction stored in the database, and sending a notification to theparticipant with results from the matching of the parameters of thesecond record with the parameters of the first record.
 215. The computerimplemented method of claim 214 for detecting errors in processingfinancial transactions, wherein the first financial transaction may beat least one of a check payment, a credit card payment, a debit cardpayment, a funds transfer payment and an electronic payment.
 216. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 214 for detecting errors inprocessing financial transactions, wherein the database receives thefirst record of the first financial transaction from one of thefollowing: a point of sale (POS), a point of presentment (POP), a pointof encashment (POE), a point of data (POD), an automated teller machine,an online account, an internet point of sale, and a mobile device. 217.The computer implemented method of claim 214 for detecting errors inprocessing financial transactions, wherein the computer automaticallypolls check register information for receiving at the computer andstoring on the database.
 218. The computer implemented method of claim214 for detecting errors in processing financial transactions, whereinthe computer performs at least two of the following steps: archivingcheck register information in a record, storing check registerinformation in a record, matching data in a record, verifying data in arecord, and authenticating data in a record.
 219. The computerimplemented method of claim 214 for detecting errors in processingfinancial transactions, wherein the computer compiles a behavior matrixfor a payer based upon the financial transaction records of the payerstored in the database.